Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured over $146 million in water priorities to strengthen Arizona’s water security and future in the Water Resources Development Act, which was included in the annual defense legislation.
“Arizona’s future and prosperity depends on our water supply – and I’m proud to secure these critical investments that will support water and wastewater infrastructure investments, and other critical flood mitigation projects across our state,” said Sinema.
Sinema secured critical investments that strengthen Arizona’s and local community’s water and wastewater infrastructure. These funds include $50 million for the Section 595 Environmental Infrastructure program in Arizona, $40 million for Pinal County, $37.5 million for Tempe, and $18,750,000 for Chandler.
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The bipartisan legislation extends the Army Corps’ Tribal Partnership Program through Fiscal Year 2033, boosts feasibility studies for flood risk management across the state, directs the quicker completion of the Winslow Levee, and supports a flood damage reduction project for Rio de Flag in Flagstaff, among others.
Sinema has been actively working with Arizona partners to identify solutions helping mitigate the impact of Western drought in Arizona. Sinema personally secured $4 billion in Western water drought resiliency during negotiations of the Inflation Reduction Act – ensuring the legislation included adequate climate resources to secure Arizona’s water and economic future. Following Sinema’s success, the Gila River Indian Community offered 750,000 acre-feet of water conservation over the next three years.
In October, Sinema convened her third Water Advisory Council meeting since its launch at the Hoover Dam in August. During her meeting, Sinema and members of the Council – including Governor Lewis – discussed next steps for new funding opportunities from the $4 billion investment in drought mitigation Sinema personally secured in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Between Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law and the Inflation Reduction law she shaped, the Senator has secured more than $13 billion in drought relief and Western water funding.
